Apple Exploring 'Mobile Robot' That 'Follows Users Around Their Homes'

[egdiroh]

This is how they leverage their navigation research while also advancing their technology for the next project along the lines of the car. They also can leverage Vision Pro tech and this will help refine Vision Pro tech. Plus their iPhone recycling robot tech.

If they can also manage my batteries, that would be awesome. I have 6 apple devices that I want start the day at 100% battery, but it's only convenient for me to charge at most 3 at a time. So something that holds / charges my devices when I am home and can bring them to me. Would be cool.

But as a life long glasses wearer I'm perhaps more ready for our cyborg future than others.

 

[iFunk]

When a robot takes your job, how do you afford to go to the restaurant where the robot now works?

Biden recently said, as highlighted on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, if you can shovel coal you can learn to program AI (lol). Believe me it won't be robots taking all the job... although they will impact some... AI is already doing it. We had an issue with our internet yesterday at home (new home being built nearby and a cable was cut) and trying to get through to Spectrum. Their IVR did all the troubleshooting and advised the issue cannot be resolved over the phone and scheduled service the next day (today) which now has been fixed. All that automation is gonna be the downfall of cutbacks in my opinion. I worked at Verizon Wireless a very long time... and they are now outsourcing like crazy overseas and it is a matter of time before they go full on chatbot customer service. There is a little bit of tongue and cheek in my comments here... but believe me a lot of people are going to be impacted by AI and some with robots I would guess. I don't have the answers but all I will say is people need to be willing to change and learn new things.

 

[SmugMaverick]

Directionless and desperate.

Sad times for Apple

Sounds like Jeff Williams has been on the verge site and seen robots so suggested it to Tim because they've failed at AI, cars, modems, micro LED, etc etc etc 🤣

 

[TheWatchfulOne]

umh.... can it goes up stair and down stair on its own or do I gotta install an elevator at my house just to make this apple pet project works ?

Stairs should not be a problem.

 

[groove-agent]

Could you imagine a physical Siri in your house? You should increase your home insurance.

 

[ronjon10]

That Amazon Robot looks like an upskirt camera. xxx sites powered by user content will be deluged.

 

[krspkbl]

wasn't the Vision Pro meant to be the next big thing? what happened to that? probably will get scrapped soon lol

 

[HMI]

New document leak reveals Apple's plans for future products.

 

[Numbah One]

The cat/dog .vs. Apple iBot videos will be hilarious.

 

[BruiserB]

AppleCar mini

 

[smulji]

Just dumb.

100% agree. This idea of home robotics is a waste of time and Apple was far better of continuing with their car project as their next moonshot. In the meantime, Apple should focus on getting their user base excited with other products like a foldable iPhone, foldable hybrid iPad notebook, XR smart glasses and incorporating more advanced health features into their current crop of wearable devices.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Biden recently said, as highlighted on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, if you can shovel coal you can learn to program AI (lol). Believe me it won't be robots taking all the job... although they will impact some... AI is already doing it. We had an issue with our internet yesterday at home (new home being built nearby and a cable was cut) and trying to get through to Spectrum. Their IVR did all the troubleshooting and advised the issue cannot be resolved over the phone and scheduled service the next day (today) which now has been fixed. All that automation is gonna be the downfall of cutbacks in my opinion. I worked at Verizon Wireless a very long time... and they are now outsourcing like crazy overseas and it is a matter of time before they go full on chatbot customer service. There is a little bit of tongue and cheek in my comments here... but believe me a lot of people are going to be impacted by AI and some with robots I would guess. I don't have the answers but all I will say is people need to be willing to change and learn new things.

Exactly. What are those displaced workers going to do for a job? If no one has a job and no one has money from said job who is going to buy ANYTHING? This is the issue with AI and robot workers.

 

[smulji]

Exactly. What are those displaced workers going to do for a job? If no one has a job and no one has money from said job who is going to buy ANYTHING? This is the issue with AI and robot workers.

There was a quote I saw on another regarding AI that I think nails it:

"You know what is the biggest problem with pushing all-things-AI is? Wrong direction. I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so that I can do my laundry and dishes".

 

[pdmpolishing]

Apple is definitely losing the plot 🙁

 

[battlescarred1]

Uggg! Robots? That's your next big thing? Apple is starting to jump the shark at every turn.

 

[chouseworth]

If every early stage R&D initiative were exposed pubically for most any company people would be absolutely amazed.

 

[Bellboy, The]

Internal project code name: 20th Anniversary Mac Mobile.

🙄

You’re heading back to the mid 90’s version of Apple and there’s no Steve Jobs to come and save your money grubbing asses. Start innovating again and not whatever the hell this is.

 

[SkippyThorson]

Ambitious mockup lol. It'll probably be more similar to a HomePod on wheels.

MacPro Wheels, no less.

The wheels will be optional. - Without them, it just stays where you put it.

They also be 20% of the cost of the product… Plus additional batteries and a cleaning cloth launch 3 months later.

 

[FriendlyMackle]

Everything to make the world, more lazy, more obese, and obsolete. Sure. Great idea.

and more docile.

 

[Tailpike1153]

I get freaked out when I wake up to my dog staring at me. Now I have to worry about R2 following everywhere. I have several malfunctioning androids at home. One is from LG and the others are my kids. Not sure I need another one.

 

[Surf Monkey]

I get freaked out when I wake up to my dog staring at me. Now I have to worry about R2 following everywhere. I have several malfunctioning androids at home. One is from LG and the others are my kids. Not sure I need another one.

Thinking about this whole weird deal, I do wonder if they were thinking along the lines of a Roomba that you don’t have to clean up your house first to use. Current vacuum robots are not at all good with cluttered spaces. But a much more advanced system could do things like move small objects out of the way, or learn where things are supposed to go and put them back as part of the cleaning process.

I mean, there really are all sorts of opportunities in the home robotics space, but I can’t for the life of me figure out why or how Apple would be a player in that market. Robots don’t strike me as an Apple type thing.

 

[Bodhitree]

I think it’s a good project for a couple of thousand mechanical engineers and software people, but I think it is a tougher goal than a self driving car. People will expect a house servant robot to do more, recognise more, and be at least as reliable as a self-driving car.

If you can’t manage to get computer vision good enough to do the car, I don’t have a lot of hope for the robot.

That said, after seeing what was shown on the NVidia AI keynote a couple of weeks ago I think it’s a definite growth area for the next decade.

 

[Seamaster]

Internal project code name: 20th Anniversary Mac Mobile.

"Mobile MiniMe"

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Tesla's heydays are already passed them. The production demand will continue to reduce itself

I have been seeing signs lately that Tesla is starting to become aware of Musk’s very public idiocy severely limiting the size of their target demographic.

 

[whit2891]

If true, likely a 10 year project. Definitely focused on AI in the short term because the stock needs a lift.